The Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá (Mambo) has abruptly introduced it’s going to change its creative director, Eugenio Viola, who has been within the position for greater than seven years. A spokesperson for the Colombian museum confirmed that it has already begun the seek for Viola’s successor. The establishment first introduced the information on its social media channels, stating that the change was a part of a “complete evaluate”.
“The board of administrators ended my contract early, not as a result of any creative or management deficiencies,” Viola mentioned in a press release to The Artwork Newspaper. “My departure adopted my resolution to lift considerations with the board in September 2025 concerning the progressive deterioration of working circumstances—considerations shared by a number of crew members. As a substitute of conducting an inner evaluate, the board dismissed these points and terminated my contract.”
Viola mentioned that the choice was made public final Friday (6 February) with out permitting him any recourse to attraction or reply to the choice. “These actions don’t align with the ideas of transparency, due course of and open change that any cultural establishment ought to uphold,” he says. “I go away with my integrity intact, having acted in good religion, supported my crew and constantly maintained moral requirements.”
The museum’s official assertion saying Viola’s dismissal on 6 February claimed that “on account of the excellent and ongoing evaluate of the completely different facets that comprise our museum, and at all times with the intention of guaranteeing greatest practices inside the establishment, the board of administrators of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá has determined to terminate its relationship with Mr Eugenio Viola, who will stay with us till Could 2026”. The assertion expressed gratitude to Viola for his contributions to “consolidating the museum as a number one Latin American establishment for modern artwork” and famous that the seek for a brand new creative director has already begun with the steerage of consultants. “The result of this course of will likely be communicated sooner or later,” the assertion concluded.
Based in 1953, Mambo is certainly one of Colombia’s main cultural establishments and has performed a central position in selling fashionable and modern artwork within the nation and the area. Viola’s departure comes at a time of inner transition. In recent times, the museum has undergone management modifications and administrative restructuring geared toward strengthening its administration mannequin and monetary sustainability because it grapples with most of the identical challenges confronted by many non-public cultural organisations throughout Latin America.
Since taking up as Mambo’s creative director in 2019, Viola has been concerned in curating greater than 50 exhibitions, a lot of them receiving nationwide and worldwide acclaim. His programme included reveals by the Chilean set up artist Voluspa Jarpa, the Mexican conceptual artist Teresa Margolles, the Guatemalan multi-disciplinary artist Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa and the Chilean artist Seba Calfuqueo, in addition to the primary exhibition in 30 years devoted to Óscar Muñoz, a key Colombian modern artist.
Earlier than shifting to Bogotá, Viola was a senior curator on the Perth Institute of Modern Arts in Western Australia and held numerous curatorial positions on the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina in Naples. He curated the Italian Pavilion on the 2022 Venice Biennale and the twenty fourth Bienal de Arte Paiz in Guatemala (till 15 February).
Viola didn’t say what position he may pursue subsequent, however did verify that he’ll transfer again to his hometown of Naples after ten years of residing and dealing overseas. He added that he’ll fulfil his present worldwide curatorial commitments.
